The March Selection
New Books, TV, & Movies to Enjoy This March
I’m a firm believer it is of the utmost importance to always have something you’re looking forward to. Life can be crazy - now more than ever, it seems - and making time for joy is crucial.
One of the simplest joys in life for me is being able to dive into a good story (whether through books, TV, or film) and one of my favorite ways to look ahead is by anticipating the upcoming month’s new releases.
Without further ado, here are the ones I have on my radar for March…
New Books: Fiction
Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian
Enemies to lovers + forced proximity road trip + slow burn yearning + sunshine x grumpy vibes = YES.
This was my Aardvark Book Club pick this month!
Released March 3rd
Suspicion by Seichō Matsumoto
Inspired by a real news story, this novella is part investigative thriller, part sociological and psychological exploration of media influence and how our own biases shape perception.
Suspicion follows a young widow after she survives a car accident that killed her husband. An ambitious reporter is certain this was no accident and instead a scheme for the widow to receive a hefty life insurance payout, especially given her former criminal associations, and he makes his opinion known. But as the trial begins, the reporter starts to question his convictions and fears how the widow will respond when she realizes how much contempt he spread.
Originally published in 1982 in Japan, it’s been translated to English for the first time by Jesse Kirkwood.
Released March 3rd
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum
Someone said this story is as if Lisa Jewell and Emily Henry co-wrote a book (!!!). Thriller + romance + humor + friendship — what more could I ask for?
Benny and Joy are best friends who host a beloved podcast where they share a different survival story each week. But when Joy goes missing, Benny starts trying to piece together what happened, even as the police begin to pin him as the prime suspect and terrible secrets start to surface…
If you love audiobooks, this one has a full cast!
Releases March 10th
Hooked by Asako Yuzuki
Eriko’s life looks perfect but underneath is a hard truth: she has never been able to hold onto a friendship and is desperately lonely. Fueled by this desperation, Eriko hatches a plan to cross paths with Shoko, an influencer whose content she follows religiously. But when the two form a friendship, it quickly turns into dangerous fixation.
Obsession, female friendship, and an exploration of parasocial relationships are at the heart of this new novel, translated by Polly Barton. I’m already hooked.
Releases March 17th
The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann
What if after being beheaded Anne Boleyn gets up, sews her head back on, and makes it her mission to ensure her daughter Elizabeth ascends the English throne (by way of killing Henry, of course)? That’s the premise of The Beheading Game and honestly that’s all I need to know — instant add to cart!
Releases March 24th
The Oldest Bitch Alive by Morgan Day
Perhaps the most original pick of the month (& also the best title?) — this is a polyphonic story that follows a French bulldog, Gelsomina, and the parasitic worms she just ingested. As Gelsomina approaches death (thanks a lot, worms), she is filled with new perspectives and meditations on everything in her life.
Hailed as “weirdly immersive and irresistible, written in exquisite, palpable prose The Oldest Bitch Alive is a stunning, speculative achievement” by Stacy Alaimo.
Releases March 24th
Seasons of Glass & Iron: Stories by Amal El-Mohtar
If I can be honest, I have somewhat of an aversion to short stories. To challenge myself this year, one of my reading goals is to read more story collections. This one piqued my interest first because of the beautiful cover and then because the 14 stories and four poems were described as “full glimpses into gleaming worlds and fairy tales with teeth” told through letters, diary entries, and lyrical prose. How could I not give this a try?
Releases March 24th
Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanaugh
I love a good thriller and Steve Cavanaugh’s name is constantly coming up as a top thriller writer, yet I’ve never read anything by him (scandal!). That may in fact change this month as the latest installment of his Eddie Flynn series hits the US market.
This story can be read as a standalone and follows Elly Parker — an internet celebrity with a perfect life that comes tumbling down after finding out her husband and best friend have been having an affair (scandal! again). Elly has built her fame on performing random acts of kindness and she’s not about to let this crushing betrayal stop her from helping others. But when she helps a stranger on a subway platform who was banking on her kindness, things take a series of sinister turns…
Releases March 24th
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez
Abby Jimenez is an auto-buy author for me at this point. Her stories are heartfelt and hilarious and I always find myself kicking my feet and laughing out loud with pure delight.
In The Night We Met, Larissa makes a split second decision when choosing who to ride home with after a concert. It turns out that she met the perfect man that night — only it was his best friend she chose to ride home with & become the girlfriend of. Get ready for ridiculous amounts of yearning and messy feelings and a scene stealing, unhinged rescue Yorkie!
Releases March 24th
A Good Person by Kirsten King
Have you ever felt inspired to put a hex on your ex? If so, read on.
In this debut, Lillian has been in a situationship with Henry and is determined to get him to commit to a real relationship. When he breaks up with her instead, she decides to perform a drunken hex on him (naturally) and expects him to come crawling back.
Well… that doesn’t happen because Henry has been found dead (whoopsies) and Lillian becomes the prime suspect in Henry’s murder. As she tries to prove her innocence and control the narrative, we are fully immersed in the chaos and delusion that is Lillian and I cannot wait to read it!
Releases March 31st
Only a Little While Here by María Ospina
In this work of ecological fiction, Ospina invites us into the world of five creatures: a songbird enchanted by city lights, a porcupine saved by human kindness, a beetle experiencing a new place, and two loyal dogs grieving their human companion. Ospina gives voice to those often overlooked in our shared world and highlights the fragility of belonging and the importance of home.
This one is for the animal & nature lovers.
Releases March 31st
Incidentals by Sheila Yasmin Marikar
First things first, I am in love with this cover. It immediately transports me to a beachside vacation with a hint of danger — and that’s exactly what we’re getting withIncidentals.
We meet Sarah and Sam who are looking to rekindle their spark by taking an anniversary trip to the Maldives (slight White Lotus vibes, I’m told). When they meet Kevin and Krista on the plane, it feels like a good omen - Kevin and Krista are happy, generous, and could be just the mentors Sarah and Sam need. But when a body is pulled from the crystal waters only days into the vacation, Sarah and Sam realize they may have to reconsider their new friendship.
Will a murder in the Maldives also be the death of their marriage… or will it be the best thing that ever happened to it?
Releases March 31st
Sorry For Your Loss by Georgia McVeigh
Unreliable narrator + romantic obsession + cat and mouse psychological thriller = a debut that’s definitely going on my list.
Releases March 31st
New Books: Nonfiction
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